Frontispiece to "The Humours of Oxford"

Art Historical Context

This engraving, dated November 1, 1807, serves as the frontispiece to James Miller’s comedy *The Humours of Oxford*. Created in the medium of engraving by Thomas Cook and published by Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme, the small sheet measures just over seven by four inches. It likely draws on earlier designs associated with William Hogarth, whose satirical style often captured the foibles of English society. The composition depicts men gathered in convivial scenes with dogs and drinking vessels, evoking the playful, sometimes rowdy atmosphere of university life that Miller’s 1730 play lampooned. Engravings like this one were essential for disseminating theatrical and literary works to a broad audience, turning a single drawing into affordable prints that could accompany new editions decades after the original performance. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this work reminds viewers how 18th-century satire used both text and image to comment on social customs, with the lively tags of “Men, Dogs, Drinking” hinting at the humorous spirit preserved in the print.

About the Artist

James Miller|William Hogarth|Thomas Cook|Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme (British|British|British) · 1704 |1697 |1696 –1744 |1764 |1776

British, Bridport, Dorset, 1704–1744 London|British, London 1697–1764 London|British, London 1696–1776 London